Old Scores (Chris Norgren 3) by Aaron Elkins

Author:Aaron Elkins
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: E-Reads
Published: 1932-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

* * *

When I came back in, Calvin was waiting for me in the lower hallway, outside Pepin's office. "What now, chief?"

"Well, we ought to have the gallery all to ourselves right now. Let's go see if I can tell a Flinck from a Rembrandt."

He looked at me, head cocked. "What for? I thought you didn't want anything to do with it."

"That was then. It's different now."

"Yeah, how is it different?"

"Vachey's dead," I said.

"What's that got to do with anything? That guy in Saint-Denis is still claiming it's his."

"I know, Calvin, but . . . I'm not sure I can explain what I mean, but Vachey's being killed changes everything. He wanted us to have the painting, he went to a lot of trouble to see that we'd get it, and now somebody's killed him." I shrugged. "I don't want to drop it now; I feel as if I owe him more than that."

He nodded. "I understand what you're saying." Good, I thought; I wasn't sure I did.

"Let's go on up," he said. "Who knows, maybe I'll learn something."

I laughed. "So you can impress your new girlfriend some more, right?"

"Sure," Calvin said, "what else?"

We went up to the second floor, but the movable walls at the head of the stairs had been shoved together and locked, so we had to go back down and get Pepin to let us in. Convincing him took some doing; the time lock would have to be disengaged, he groused, the alarm systems would have to be disarmed, there were many other demands on his attention at this moment, etc., etc. But we insisted, and he finally went unwillingly along with the idea, probably figuring that it would take less time to just let us in, than it would to keep arguing with us about it.

A few minutes later, he slid the walls apart and stood doubtfully aside to let us pass. "Touch nothing, please. You'll tell me when you go? I must arm the systems again."

"Of course," I told him.

"Arm the systems, hell," Calvin said as Pepin reluctantly left us on our own. "He probably wants to count the paintings when we leave."

I laughed. "Forget it, it's just his manner. Nothing personal. Come on, let's have a look. Maybe I'll learn something too."

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